S.F. bigwigs to party for Pelosi

SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco’s most influential figures are expected to storm the U.S. Capitol this week trumpeting The City’s core liberal values as they celebrate the swearing in of Nancy Pelosi as speaker of the House.

The 66-year-old San Francisco Democrat will become the first female speaker of the House today, and will provide San Francisco and the rest of the state with considerable influence over federal affairs.

San Francisco’s power elite has made no secret that they are attending swearing-in events to not only celebrate with Pelosi,but also push for all things important to the Bay Area.

"This is one of the most exciting moments in electoral history," said Alex Clemens, a consultant with top San Francisco lobbying firm Barbary Coast Consulting. "I believe many San Franciscans are jumping at the chance to go bask in the reflective glory that Speaker Pelosi is bringing to San Francisco. It’s a moment in history I wouldn’t want to miss."

Among those who do not want to miss out is Mayor Gavin Newsom, who traveled to the nation’s capital on Wednesday to attend a dinner with Pelosi.

"It’s hard to describe how incredible the opportunity is in front of us, really for San Francisco and the region," Newsom said on Tuesday. "We have a two-year window where the speaker of the House is one who understands compassionate urban leadership. We’ve got to take advantage of that."

The Capitol will receive a full dose of San Francisco’s core values with the expected attendance of a number of powerful leaders who represent The City’s liberal leanings.

Stem cell research advocate Bob Klein, who serves as chairman of the Independent Citizens Oversight Committee for the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, is expected to visit the Capitol, as is James Hormel, a San Francisco businessman who in 1999 became the first openly gay ambassador in U.S. history.

Major Democratic donors are also on the list of attendees, including Mark Buell, a San Francisco businessman, and his wife, Esprit de Corps founder Susie Buell.

University of San Francisco President the Rev. Stephen Privett was invited by Pelosi to deliver the invocation before she is sworn in as speaker of the House today, and the prayer’s theme will focus on Americans in the most need.